AAI Opposes Attempt to Stifle Protests in DC
On Friday, October 12, AAI submitted comments to the National Park Service (NPS) outlining our opposition the proposed changes regarding demonstrations and special events in the National Capital Region. If enacted, these changes will drastically limit Americans’ ability to exercise their First Amendment rights in notable places like Lafayette Square...
The Nation-State Law and Its Implications
On October 2, 2018, the Arab American Institute partnered with the Mossawa Center and the Al-Tulafa Center to host a panel discussion on Capitol Hill about Israel’s recent Nation-State law and its implications for democracy, equality, and peace in Israel and Palestine. AAI joined long-time activist Jafar Farah, who is...
AAI Letter Challenges Treatment of Lara Alqasem by Israel
On Friday, October 12, AAI sent Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a letter explaining the Institute’s concerns about the treatment of Lara Alqasem and other Arab Americans at Israeli-controlled border crossings. On October 2, Alqasem traveled to Israel on a valid student visa to study human rights at Hebrew University. ...
AAI Responds to Confirmation of Eric Dreiband
Arab American Civil Rights Group Responds to Confirmation of Eric Dreiband as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division in the Department of Justice WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Arab American Institute Executive Director Maya Berry released the following statement in response to the Senate’s confirmation of Eric Dreiband as...
Victory on Airline Discrimination
Victory on Airline Discrimination FAA Law Includes New Requirement on Nondiscrimination Training WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018 was signed into law on Friday, October 5, 2018. The bill includes section 407, titled “Training policies regarding racial, ethnic, and religious nondiscrimination,” which outlines requirements...
The Scapegoating of Minorities as National Security Policy
On September 20, 2018, the George Washington University Law School convened “The Scapegoating of Minorities as National Security Policy” panel as part of the NATSECDEF conference. Laila al-Arian of Al Jazeera led a discussion between Deepa Iyer, author of We Too Sing America, and former Executive Director of South Asian...
#MidtermsOnMyTerms: Yalla Vote Makes its Mark Nationally
By Ibrahim Diallo September 25th marked this year’s National Voter Registration Day (NVRD), a national holiday celebrated on the fourth Tuesday of every September to register eligible voters and spread awareness of upcoming elections and local opportunities to become civically engaged. As a premier partner of NVRD, AAI coordinated voter...
Examining First Amendment Rights on Campus
In a hearing on Wednesday, September 26th, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce addressed the topic of free speech on college campuses. To begin, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) stated that institutions of higher education “curbing speech” via anti-harassment policies threaten to undermine the cultivation of students’ critical...
#OurAmerica2018 Gather Advocates, Impacts Policy Agenda
By Ibrahim Diallo On September 22nd and 24th, The Arab American Institute and our national partners, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Open the Government, hosted our Fall 2018 National Leadership Summit, Our America: Harness Power, Change Policy. The Summit consisted of convenings in two cities: Dearborn, MI, and...
False Narratives of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
On Wednesday, September 12th, Georgetown University’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies and the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding hosted a discussion with four leading scholars and activists in the areas of Palestinian Christianity and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Dr. James Zogby of the Arab American Institute, The Telos Group’s...
